Current News
Increasing Rail Capacity
by Lou Cohn, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE
President, Transportation and Development Institute of the ASCE
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Before I share my thoughts on increasing rail capacity, let me offer our condolences to the victims of the I-35W bridge collapse, and encouragement to the MNDOT, FHWA, and NTSB engineers who will be working non-stop to find the cause and prevent such future disasters. Without a doubt there will be many T&DI and ASCE members heavily involved in this effort.
Now to increasing rail capacity – There are currently two bills before Congress (S. 1125 in the Senate and H.R. 2116 in the house) that are designed to offer incentives to the private sector to invest in projects designed to increase rail capacity. This is a necessary and worthy goal for many reasons. First among them is the need to provide alternatives to the increasing number of trucks on the interstate highways. Current truck percentages at night are far greater than they were a generation ago, sometimes exceeding 75 percent. This causes excessive wear and tear on the highways, significant environmental problems (e.g., noise at night), and burns too much fuel per ton mile. For example, one locomotive can move a ton of freight 414 miles on a single gallon of diesel fuel, which is one-third to one-fourth the amount used by a truck.
To read the full article please click here.
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Sign Up Now!!
29th International Air Transport Conference
A World of Growth
August 19-22, 2007
Irving, Texas
Aviation is changing, and with change come new challenges for airports and aviation systems worldwide to keep pace. Airlines in the United States have repositioned themselves to respond to new low-fare competition, new security requirements and the rising cost of jet fuel as they attempt to return to profitability. Meanwhile, air travel has been introduced to the masses in places like China, India, Brazil and Mexico. The low-fare model, introduced in the United States and copied successfully in Europe, is now being discovered in places like Latin America, Asia and Australia. Passenger growth has accelerated since the dark days after September 11, 2001, and massive new airport construction programs are underway to accommodate that growth – in countries as diverse as China, India, The Gulf states and the United States.
The three-day Conference will include a plenary session, technical sessions presented in multiple tracks as determined by the Technical Program Subcommittee, panel discussions and workshops as well as a trade exhibit and technical tour. Proceedings will be provided to full registration attendees at the Conference.
For more information please click here.
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October 10th is "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day"
The seventh annual “Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day” (PBFD) will be celebrated in communities throughout America to encourage public participation in becoming better drivers and achieving a reduction in the number of traffic deaths for themselves, family members and others. The goal is to encourage everyone – whether as a driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist – to take extra caution this day to prevent crashes from occurring and to improve their habits for driving, riding and walking every other day of the year.
On July 23, 2007 Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced the number of people who died on the nations’ roads fell in 2006. This resulted in the lowest highway fatality rate (per 100 million vehicle miles) ever recorded and the largest drop in total deaths in 15 years. In 2006, 42,642 people died in traffic crashes, a drop of 868 deaths compared to 2005. “Tough safety requirements and new technologies are helping make our vehicles safer and our roads less deadly, Secretary Peters said. “But we all must do more when so many are killed or seriously hurt on our roads every day.” A fatality occurs approximately once every 12 minutes or 118 every day.
For more information please click here.
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First International Symposium on
Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices
The First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices to be held in Beijing, China, April 24-26, 2008 is shaping up to be the premier event in China for engineering and planning professionals from around the world seeking to present and learn about innovative best practices in transportation and development. Held in conjunction with Asia’s largest transportation technology exhibition, TRANSPO2008 (www.transpo.com), the event will mark T&DI’s formal entry into the world’s largest developing nation. High-ranking public officials will be participating, including the China Vice Minister of Communications, who will personally open the program.
For more information please click here.
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Proposed Federal Regulations Expected to Improve Safety of Passenger Trains
Afford Passengers and Crew Better Crash Protection
Rail passengers and train crew members will be better protected under newly proposed federal safety standards that significantly enhance the strength of key structural components of passenger rail cars to make them more crashworthy, announced Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph H. Boardman.
“Mitigating the potentially damaging forces involved in train accidents is critical to preventing injury to passengers and crew,” Boardman said, noting that crash worthiness can be significantly enhanced when the structure of a passenger rail car is engineered to absorb more energy and crush in a controlled manner.
For more information please click here.
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Technical Region Directors Report
August 1 , 2007
Stan R. Caldwell, P.E., F. AEI/ F.ASCE, Technical Region Director
Thomas M. Rachford, Ph.D., P.E., F.ASCE, Technical Region Director
All members of the ASCE Board of Direction are expected to communicate
effectively with the constituents in their respective regions. The Technical Region is a worldwide, virtual region comprised of ASCE's seven Institutes. This report is the second in a series of brief summaries intended to keep you informed of news from the ASCE Board of Direction. Communication is a two-way process. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with your questions and concerns. I would especially appreciate receiving any thoughts that you might have on how ASCE and its Technical Region can better serve you.
For the rest of this article, please click here.
Announcements
Federal Rail Administration (FRA) is Looking for a
Director, Office of Passenger and Freight Programs
Transportation impacts every facet of American life, providing people access to work, school, loved ones, and nature’s rich bounty. As a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) employee, you will become a part of the dedicated workforce who works day-to-day to make measurable improvements in our transportation system, the security of our nation, and the quality of American life.
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), an Operating Administration under DOT, was created to promote and enforce safety throughout the U.S. railroad system, consolidate Federal financial support for rail transportation, and support research and development to benefit rail transportation for passengers, railroad employees and the general public.
The mission of the Office of Passenger and Freight Programs is to develop, implement, and administer policies, plans and programs relating to Federal financial assistance for intercity passenger rail and freight rail service, provide program oversight of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and support development of intercity passenger rail policy.
The FRA is ranked by its employees as one of the top-rated agencies in which to work, according to the Office of Personnel Management 2006 Federal Human Capital Survey.
For more information please click here.
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Call for Members – ASCE/T&DI/ICPI Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standard Committee
The Transportation and Development Institute (T&DI) of ASCE and the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) are seeking members for the Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement Standards Committee. The committee is developing a consensus guideline for the design of pavements using interlocking concrete pavers in applications of full traffic loading. Membership on the T&DI/ASCE/ICPI standard committees is open to all those who might reasonably be expected to be or who indicate they are directly affected by the activity without dominance by any single interest group: Producer, Consumer and General Interest, including Regulatory. Those interested in applying to the committee should contact Phillip Mariscal, ASCE Standards Administrator, for an application at pmariscal@asce.org or (703) 295-6338.
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T&DI Transportation Safety Committee Seeks New Members
T&DI's Transportation Safety Committee is seeking people interested in becoming a member of the committee. The committee's responsibilities include dissemination of safety information and to provide education and training pertaining to safety issues related to the planning, design, construction and operation of transportation facilities. The Transportation Safety Committee is also the lead T&DI technical committee in planning the Put the Brakes on Fatalities program. If you are interested in becoming a member of T&DI's Transportation and Safety Committee, please send an e-mail to tanddi@asce.org to obtain a committee nomination form.
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Comments Solicited on Draft Body of Knowledge (Second Edition)
ASCE Policy Statement 465 states that “The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports the attainment of a Body of Knowledge (BOK) for entry into the practice of civil engineering at the professional level.” The BOK is defined as the depth and breadth of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of an individual entering the professional practice of civil engineering. The BOK is strategic and foundational to our profession because it ultimately influences public understanding of our profession, accreditation criteria, curricula, the Engineer Intern experience, and licensure requirements.
ASCE released the first edition of the BOK in early 2004 and is now releasing a refined, enhanced, and updated version in draft form for your review. This second edition of the BOK was prepared by the Body of Knowledge Committee of CAP^3 (Committee on the Academic Prerequisites for Professional Practice) in response to widespread stakeholder interest in, use of, and comments about the first edition. CAP^3 is pleased to note that the BOK has stimulated thinking and discussion about education and practice within and outside of civil engineering. The BOK has proven to be a productive forum in which educators and practitioners come together to proactively determine how tomorrow’s civil engineers should be prepared.
For more information please click here.
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Help ASCE Recognize Greatness
Colleagues who have contributed to civil engineering through their outstanding leadership, research or substantial career accomplishments merit the accolades of their peers. The Society’s Honors and Awards Program invites your nominations for the 2008 selection cycle. Of more than 80 ASCE awards, Transportation and Development Institute members will be especially interested in the following:
Awards for achievement:
Honorary Member
OPAL
Harland Bartholomew Award
James Laurie Prize
Frank M. Masters Transportation Engineering Award
Wilbur S. Smith Award
Francis C. Turner Award
Robert Horonjeff Award
For more information please click here.
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Keynote Address by Former T&DI President
Kumares C. Sinha, Ph.D., P.E., Hon.M.ASCE, a former president of the institute will deliver the keynote address at the 7th Conference of the East Asian Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS) to be held in Dalian, China September 24-27, 2007. The title of his speech will be: "Is Transportation Studies a Scientific Endeavor?" At the invitation of the Japan Society of Civil Engineers and the Japan Road Federation
He will also speak in Tokyo, on September 28, concerning the impact of infrastructure conditions on the economy.
Sinha is an Olson Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University.
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2006 T&DI Applications of Advanced Technology in Transportation
The 2006 T&DI Applications of Advanced Technology in Transportation Conference Proceedings are now available in bound format. The proceedings can be purchased through the Publications Department of ASCE. To view the table of contents and an abstract or to order your own copy please click here.
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2006 T&DI Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference Proceedings
The 2006 T&DI Airfield and Highway Pavements Conference Proceedings are now available in bound format. The proceedings can be purchased through the Publications Department of ASCE. To view the table of contents and an abstract or to order your own copy please click here.
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Key Contact Program
Public policy information you should know in easy to read briefs. That’s what ASCE’s Key Contact Program can provide to T&DI members. T&DI members are invited to join ASCE’s Key Contact Program and receive “This Week in Washington” a weekly email newsletter with information on issues active in Washington, D.C. and the state capitals. In addition, Key Contacts receive periodic Key Alerts asking for grassroots action from ASCE members on a specific issue.
For more information please click here.
Committee Updates
The Transportation Security Committee's Subcommittee on Roving Security Inspections
The Transportation Security Committee's Subcommittee on Roving Security Inspections has developed a draft document that provides guidance on establishing a Roving Security Inspection program using explosive-detection dogs (EDDs) and handlers. The Subcommittee will be working with the T&DI Standards Committee to develop the procedures into a non-mandatory standard for publication by ASCE. The Subcommittee welcomes participation by any T&DI member. Contact Eva Lerner-Lam or David Gaier for further information.
Continuing Education
Webinars
Thursday, August 30, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30 pm Eastern Time On-Site Circulation and Access Design for Commercial Developments~Part I
Thursday, September 6, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1pm Eastern Time On-Site Circulation and Access Design for Commercial Developments~Part II
Thursday, September13, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Intersection Design and Channelization
Thursday, September 20, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Traffic Calming: Best Practices, Part I
Thursday, September 27, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1pm Eastern Time Traffic Calming: Lessons Learned, Part II
Tuesday, October 2, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Tort Liability, Part I: Addressing Engineering Liability Issues
Thursday October 4, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Designing Bicycle Facilities
Thursday, October 11, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Improving Pedestrian Crossing at Uncontrolled Locations
Friday, October 12, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:00 pm Eastern Time Signal Synchronization ~ Part 1
Friday, October 19, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:00pm Eastern Time Signal Synchronization ~ Part II
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time Tort Liability, Part II: How Transportation Liability Impacts Civil Engineers
Thursday, October 25, 2007 ~ 12 Noon- 1:30pm Eastern Time An Introduction to Roadside Delineation and Safety Systems
Seminars
2007
Techniques for Pavement Rehabilitation, September 26-28, 2007, Boston, MA.
Planning and Designing Service and Systems Interchanges in Urban and Suburban Areas, September 27-28, Seattle, WA.
Design and Evaluation of Highway Bridge Superstructures Using LRFD,
November 1-2, Los Angeles, CA.
Techniques for Pavement Rehabilitation, December 5-7, 2007, San Antonio, TX.
2008
Design and Evaluation of Highway Bridge Superstructures Using LRFD,
February 14-15, Phoenix, AZ.
Techniques for Pavement Rehabilitation, February 27-29, Las Vegas, NV.
Planning & Designing Service & System Interchanges in Urban & Suburban Areas, March 27-28, Las Vegas, NV.
To sign up for either a seminar or a Webinar please go to the Continuing Education page on ASCE's website located here.
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Become An ASCE Continuing Education Instructor
Share your professional experience and technological advances with your colleagues through ASCE Continuing Education Seminars. As your professional society we need to continually offer the latest information regarding advances and breakthroughs in your field. To do this we need your help - "the practicing engineer". if you are working on something innovative or cost saving that would be of benefit to ASCE consider sharing the news.
For more information please click here.
Upcoming Conferences
29th International Air Transport Conference, Irving, TX, August 19-22, 2007.
For more information on this event please click here.
First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Innovative Best Practices (TDIBP 2008), April 24-26, 2008, Beijing, China.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.
10th International Conference on the Application of Advanced Technology in Transportation, May 27-31, 2008, Athens, Greece.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.
International Conference on Transportation Engineering, July 22-24, 2008, Chengdu, China.
(T&DI is a co-sponsoring organization)
For more information please click here.
Product Information
The Transportation & Development Institute in conjunction with Lands' End Outfitters are pleased to announce the addition of the T&DI logo to the Lands' End Family. This logo can be placed on shirts, jackets, sweaters, etc. from Lands' End. Contact Lands' End at www.landsend.com or by phone 1-800-963-4816. Please reference our logo number #0352715W. (There is a fee for the addition of the logo to the garment.)
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